Methods and devices for playing a card game having multiple wagering opportunities

ABSTRACT

A method of playing and presenting a game offers players the opportunity for multi-tier wagering and side or proposition bets. In one embodiment a card game offers an ante, secondary, tertiary and quaternary wagering options on a player hand against a dealer hand and proposition bets on the player and/or dealer hands. The game may comprise a card game in which initial cards are dealt to each player and the dealer and then then community flop, river and turn cards are dealt, with each player and the dealer forming a best five card poker hand from seven cards. The game may be presented using physical game places at a game table or via an electronic gaming device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods of presenting and playing gamesand devices configured to present games.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While players like fast paced, exciting games, many players are reticentto play new games because of their unfamiliarity with a new game. Thus,one object is to make one or more old games more exciting. This processis general complex, however, as changes to the game can affect the basicstrategy of game play which player's find desirable, or cansignificantly change the win probabilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention comprise methods of playing and presentinggames and gaming devices and systems for implementing the game.

In one embodiment of the invention, a method of playing and presenting agame offers players the opportunity for multi-tier wagering and side orproposition bets. The games are played using game pieces, such asphysical or virtual game pieces such as playing cards.

In one embodiment a card game offers an ante, a secondary, a tertiaryand a quaternary wagering option on a player hand against a dealer handand proposition bets on the player and/or dealer hands. The game maycomprise a card game in which one or more initial cards are dealt toeach player and the dealer and then then community flop, river and turncards are dealt, with each player and the dealer forming a best fivecard poker hand from their initial cards and the community cards.

In one embodiment of a method, a player places an ante wager and,optionally, a player and/or dealer hand proposition bet. One or moreinitial cards are dealt to each player and the dealer. The player thenelects to fold or place a secondary wager. One or more flop cards arethen dealt or displayed. The player then elects to fold or place atertiary wager. At least one river and/or turn card are dealt ordisplayed. The player then elects to fold or place a quaternary wager.

If the player is active, e.g. has placed the required ante, secondary,tertiary and quaternary wagers, then the outcome of those wagers isdetermined by comparing the player's hand to the dealer's hand. Theplayer's hand may comprise the best five card poker hand formed from theinitial card(s) dealt to the player and the community cards. In oneembodiment, three flop cards and one turn and one river card are dealt,whereby the player's hand comprises the best five cards selected fromseven cards. The dealer's hand likewise is formed from the initialcard(s) dealt to the dealer and the community cards.

In one embodiment, if the player's hand comprises a Three of a Kindpoker hand or better and beats the dealer's hand, the player is paidwinnings. If the player's hand is less than a Three of a Kind but beatsthe dealer's hand, or if the player's hand has a rank of Three of a Kindor greater and is equal in rank to the dealer's hand, the outcome is apush (the player's wagers are returned) and if the player's hand loses,the player loses their wagers.

Regardless of whether the player was active, the proposition bets areresolved. In one embodiment, the player wins a player hand propositionbet if the player's hand comprises at least a Three of a Kind and winsthe dealer hand proposition bet if the dealer's hand comprises at leasta Three of a Kind.

Winnings may be paid for winning wagers and winning proposition bets,such as based up a pay table.

The games of the invention may be presented at a gaming table usingphysical playing cards, using chips and including a gaming table layout.The games of the invention might also be presented via an electronicgaming device or system, such as by displaying graphical images of gamepieces. In other embodiments, the games of the invention may be playedusing game pieces other than playing cards, such as dice.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention overthe prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of thedrawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart which illustrates one method of playing and/orpresenting a game in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a game table and associated gamelayout for playing and presenting a game of the invention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a gaming machine for presenting agame in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a more thorough description of the present invention.It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known features have not been described in detailso as not to obscure the invention.

Embodiments of the invention comprise methods of playing and presentinggames. One embodiment of the invention comprises a game, and preferablya card game, which offers multiple wagering opportunities to a player,thus increasing the stakes and excitement of the game.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram which illustrates a method of presenting andplaying a game in accordance with the invention. In one embodiment, thegame is played by a dealer or the house (which may comprise a liveperson or a virtual dealer) and one or more players. As detailed herein,the game might be played or presented at a gaming machine or device, ata gaming table or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the game isplayed at a gaming table by a dealer and at least one player, such as upto 6 or 8 players or more.

Preferably, the game is presented as a wagering game in which a playeris required to place a wager in order to play the game and where theplayer has the opportunity to be awarded winnings. Thus, in oneembodiment, in a step S1, a player places an ante or initial wager inorder to participate in the game. Optionally, a participating player mayplace one or more proposition bets such as a player hand and/or dealerhand trips bet. The ante wager may be required to be of a certainminimum size and may also have a maximum size. The player may, but ispreferably not required, to be place a proposition bet such as theplayer hand and/or dealer hand trips bet. The player hand and/or dealerhand trips bets may comprise proposition bets that a player or dealerhand will comprise a hand having certain characteristics. In oneembodiment, this may comprise that the player or dealer hand comprisesat least a minimum of a Three of a Kind poker hand in a poker stylegame. Of course, other characteristics might be defined, such as onecharacteristic for the player hand and a different one for the dealerhand. Thus, while the player hand and dealer hand proposition bets arereferred to herein as “trips” bets because they are based upon thosehands comprising a Three of a Kind, they might be referred to simply asbets or proposition bets, such as in situation where other winningcriteria are utilized. As with the ante wager, the player hand and/ordealer hand trips bets might be a minimum amount and/or maximum amount.In one embodiment, a player may place a player hand trips bet, a dealerhand trips bet, or both. In other embodiments, a player might only bepermitted to place a player hand trips bet or a dealer hand trips bet,but not both.

In a step S2, one or more initial game or playing pieces are provided toeach player and the dealer. In a preferred embodiment, the game isplayed with playing cards, such as cards dealt from one of more decks ofstandard playing cards (e.g. cards having the indicia 2 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace in each of the four suits Hearts,Clubs, Spades and Diamonds). Of course, other playing pieces might beutilized such as dice, etc. As described below, the playing pieces maycomprise physical playing pieces, such as physical printed cards,physical dice or the like, or might comprise virtual playing pieces,such as graphical images of the playing pieces displayed on one or moreelectronic video displays.

In one embodiment, in a step S2 two playing cards are dealt to eachplayer and the dealer. Preferably, at least the dealer cards are dealtface down (e.g. the card indicia are not visible to the players).

In a step S3, each player inspects their initial cards and elects toeither place a secondary wager, which may be referred to as a “BeforeFlop” wager, or fold. If the player folds (e.g. does not place therequired secondary wager), then the player loses their ante wager but isstill entitled to participate in any placed proposition bet(s), asindicated in steps S4 and S13. The secondary wager may have a certainminimum size, such as comprising a secondary wager equal to the player'sante wager. The secondary wager may also have a maximum size.

In a step S5, one or more additional game pieces are dealt or revealed.In one embodiment, the additional game pieces may comprise threeadditional playing cards, referred to as the “flop cards.” These cardsmay be displayed to all players and the dealer (and may thus be referredto as community cards) and are preferably dealt or provided from thesame deck or decks of cards as the initial cards. Preferably, the valueof the playing pieces is revealed, such as by dealing the playing cardsface up.

In a step S6, each player who has not already folded must elect toeither place a tertiary wager or fold. If the player folds (e.g. doesnot place the required tertiary wager), then the player preferably losesor forfeits their ante and secondary (before flop) wagers, as in stepS7. However, the player remains eligible to participate in any placedproposition bet(s), as in step S13. The tertiary wager, which may bereferred to as an “after flop” wager, may have a certain minimum size,such as comprising a tertiary wager equal or larger than the player'sante wager. In certain embodiments, the tertiary wager may also have amaximum size.

In a step S8, one or more additional game or playing pieces are revealedor provided. In one embodiment, this step comprises dealing andrevealing two additional playing cards. These cards may be referred toas the turn and river cards. Preferably, these cards are displayed toall players and the dealer (and may thus also be referred to ascommunity cards) and are preferably dealt or provided from the same deckor decks of cards as the other cards. Preferably, the value of theplaying pieces is revealed, such as by dealing the playing cards faceup.

In a step S9, each player who has not already folded inspects theirinitial cards in combination with the additionally dealt cards (or othergame pieces) and makes an election to place a quaternary wager, such asan “all in” wager. Once again, if the player folds (e.g. does not placethe required quaternary wager), then the player preferably loses orforfeits their ante, secondary (before flop) and tertiary (after flop)wagers, as in step S10. Once again, however, the player may remaineligible to participate in any placed proposition bet(s), as in stepS13. The quaternary wager, may have a certain minimum size, such as 1 or2 times their ante wager (and the wage might have a maximum size).

In a step S11, the dealer reveals the dealer's initial card(s) or gamepiece(s). For example, in the case of playing cards, the dealer may turnover their initial cards so that the card faces which display the cardindicia are displayed to the players.

In a step S12, each active player's hand is compared to the dealer'shand of game pieces. In one embodiment, this step applies to activeplayers, e.g. those players that placed all required wagers, e.g. theante wager, the secondary wager, the tertiary wager and the quaternarywager. The player and dealer hands may be formed in various manners. Ina preferred embodiment, each active player and the dealer have beendealt two initial playing cards and can utilize any of the communitycards (the three flop cards and the turn and river cards), or seventotal cards. In the preferred embodiment, each player and the dealerpreferably forms a best five card poker hand from the seven availablecards, such as in accordance with standard poker hand rankings (rankedfrom low to high, the hands of: High Card, One Pair, Two Pair, Three ofa Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, Four of a Kind, Straight Flush) orother defined criteria for the same.

In this step S12, each active player's hand is compared to the dealer'shand, such as to determine which hand has the highest rank. In oneembodiment, the hand with the highest rank is determined to be thewinner. Tie hands may be declared a push. In a preferred embodiment, thedealer hand always qualifies. In other words, regardless of the rankingof the dealer's hand (even when the dealer's hand has a low ranking),the player's hand is compared to the dealer's hand in the evaluation ofthe player's wagers.

In a step S13, the player and/or dealer hands (or other game pieces) areevaluated for the proposition bets. In one embodiment, for each playerwho placed a player hand trips bet, this comprises determining if theplayer's hand comprises at least a Three of a Kind poker hand. In thecase of each player who placed a dealer hand trips bet, this comprisesdetermining if the dealer's hand comprises at least a Three of a Kindpoker hand.

In a step S14, winnings are preferably paid for winning wagers and bets(and wagers or bets or returned or collected). For example, for eachactive player, their ante wager is paid at 1:1 (e.g. if the player'sante wager is $5, then the player's ante wager would be returned alongwith a payout of $5) if their hand is winning and comprises a Full Houseor better. Other winning player hands result in a return of the player'sante wager (e.g. a “push”), but no award of winnings. If the player'shand does not beat the dealer's hand, then the player's hand is losingand the player loses their ante wager (e.g. no winnings are paid).

In one embodiment, each active player's secondary, tertiary andquaternary wagers (such as Before Flop, After Flop and All In wagers)may be paid out at the following rates:

TABLE 1 Flop & Turn/River Payouts Winning Hand Pays Royal Flush 100 to1  Straight Flush 20 to 1  Four of a Kind 4 to 1 Full House 3 to 2 AllOther Wins 1 to 1

If the player's hand does not beat the dealer's hand, then the playerpreferably loses their secondary, tertiary and quaternary wagers (e.g.not winnings are paid). If the player's hand is equal in rank to thedealer's hand, the player's wagers are returned (e.g. a push), but nowinning are awarded.

In one embodiment, winnings are paid to each player who placed a winningproposition bet, regardless of whether the player's hand bet thedealer's hand. In one embodiment, winnings may be paid based upon thehand rank as follows:

TABLE 2 Trips Payouts Winning Hand Pays Royal Flush 50 to 1  StraightFlush 40 to 1  Four of a Kind 30 to 1  Full House 8 to 1 Flush 7 to 1Straight 4 to 1 Three of a Kind 3 to 1

Various aspects of the invention will now be appreciated. In oneembodiment, a game offers a player multiple wagering options, such as afour tier wagering option comprising an ante or initial wager, asecondary wager, a tertiary wager and at least a quaternary wager. Eachlevel of wagering increases the excitement of the game due to theincreases risk as the wagers compile, and wherein the outcome of thosewagers is tied to the same outcome criteria (such as a comparison of theplayer's hand to the dealer's hand). In a preferred embodiment, the anteor initial wager is required to enter the game and the secondary,tertiary and quaternary wagers must all be placed by the player in orderto be entitled to play out their hand against the dealer. If the playerdoes not place all of those wagers, then the player folds andautomatically loses those wagers.

In many games, the house is provided an advantage by requiring that thedealer's hand have a certain rank or minimum qualification in order tobe played out against the player/the player's hand. This reduces theprobability of the house losing the wager because low ranking househands (which are easier for the player's hand to beat) are excluded fromplay. In accordance with the present invention, the combination ofwagers allows the game to be played in a manner where the dealer handalways qualifies (e.g., if the player places the required wagers, theirhand is compared to the dealer's hand no matter how low the dealer'shand may rank, thus improving the probability of the player winning thewager that their hand will beat the dealer's hand).

The game preferably also offers at least one separate wager, such as oneor more proposition bets. These bets are preferably independent of thewagers and have an outcome which is determined apart from the criteriaof the wagers. In a preferred embodiment, the player is eligible to playout the side or proposition bets even if the player folds and losestheir wagers. Players who placed proposition bets thus remain interestedin the game until the end, even if they have folded along the way,because they remain eligible for a proposition bet win.

In one embodiment, a variety of winnings may be paid. In one embodiment,winnings may be paid based upon one or more pay tables which offerincreased or high payouts. These payouts generate game excitement due tothe probability of potentially high wins in comparison so the size ofwagers or bets placed. Other types of winnings than monies or monetaryvalue credits/chips might be awarded, such as points, tangible prizes,discounts or the like.

As indicated, the game of the invention may be implemented in variousmanners, such as via various gaming machines, devices and/or systems.

As one example, the game of the invention might be presented at a gamingtable. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, games of the invention maybe implemented in a “table” format. In such a configuration, the gamemay be presented at a gaming table using physical game pieces, such asphysical playing cards.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a game playing surface, such as a gaming table200 or board is provided. The gaming table 200 (or a surface thereof,such as a “gaming felt” or other covering which is applied to thesurface, printing on the gaming table or the like) may include or definea dealer station 202 where a dealer may run a game as described above.The dealer station 202 may include dealer controls to administer thegame, an automatic card shuffler and/or card shoe (now shown), and thelike.

The table 200 also includes or defines one or more player stations 214.In one embodiment, each player station 214 comprises an area or portionof the table or its play surface.

In one embodiment, the table 200 defines one or more game play features.Such features may be defined by printing on the table or its coveringsurface, by one or more displays and/or by surface or topographicalfeatures such as depressed areas, raised areas, contours or the like.

In one embodiment, the dealer station 202 defines a dealer initial cardarea 206, a flop card area 208, a turn card area 210 and a river cardarea 212. These areas may be defined by printing or the like, asdetailed above.

Each player station 214 preferably defines an ante wager area 216, asecondary wagering area 218, a tertiary wagering area 220, a quaternarywager area 222, and first and second proposition bet areas 224,226, suchas player hand and dealer hand trips bets areas. Each player station 214might also comprise an initial card area (not shown), such as to whichthe player's initial game pieces/cards may be dealt.

These various areas may be defined by printing or the like, as detailedabove. Of course, the table may include other areas or information, suchas other card areas, pay tables, instructions and the like 230.

The player stations 214 might also or alternatively include a number ofelectronic controls for placing wagers or designating game playdecisions (such as “fold” decision) to the dealer. The wagering and betareas may be configured to automatically detect a wager via RFID, NFC,or other similar means, such as by detecting the placement of one ormore RFID tagged wagering chips in those areas. Alternatively, one ormore of the wagering areas might comprise a slot or the like into whicha chip, coin, etc. may be inserted.

The gaming table 200 may optionally include one or more displays, suchas electronic video displays. The displays may show game information tothe players, such as a payout table, a status of bets and wagers, etc.There may also be a camera (not shown) disposed above the table. Thecamera may output images to the display so that the players and otheronlooker may easily watch the game as it progresses. In anotherembodiment, the player and/or dealers areas might include one or moreelectronic displays for displaying game information electronically(images of cards, etc.). The displays might also include a touch screenor be associated with other input devices (buttons, keypad, etc.) forreceiving wager information from a player, etc.

The size of the gaming board or table 200 may vary, as may its shape,etc. The top or playing surface of the gaming table 200 may preferablybe elevated, such as by legs, etc.

Relative to a gaming table 200 such as that in FIG. 2, a player desiringto play the game preferably places an ante wager, such as by placing oneor more chips at the ante wager area 216. The player may optionallyplace the first or second proposition bets at those corresponding areas224,226, and may place the other wagers at those corresponding areas218, 220, 222, such as by placing one or more chips at those areas.

Of course, wagers might be placed in manners other than by using/placingmonetary value chips. Wagers might be placed using coins, currency, orelectronically, such as via electronic credits or monetary value, suchas associated with an account or balance of credits/monies.

As indicated herein, the game is preferably played using one or morestandard decks of 52 physical cards comprising the cards 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K and Ace in each of the suits of Hearts, Diamonds,Spades and Clubs, wherein the suit and rank of each card is displayed ona first side of the card and the opposite side of the card defines acard back which does not display the card suit and rank, such as viaprinting on a media (such as paper/card stock).

In one embodiment, the cards may be dealt from a shuffled deck or a shoeof multiple cards. The cards may also be dealt or provided by anautomatic card shuffling device. Of course, the game might be playedwith other sets or types of cards, such as one or more decks of cardswith one or more wildcards or Jokers or other types of cards.

The game table 200 may include other devices or features and/or belinked to other devices or systems. For example, the game table 200 (orthe card shoe) might include a card reader which is configured to readdealt cards for use in verifying game outcomes. In this regard, thegaming table 200 might include a processor, at least one memory,machine-readable code which is stored in the at least one memory andexecutable by the processor for implementing various features. As oneexample, the processor might obtain data regarding dealt cards (such asfrom a card reader) and determine the value of the players and dealerhands, such as for generating an output of game outcomes, such aswinning and losing results, winnings to be paid, etc. The gaming tableprocessor might be linked to or communicate with other devices orsystems, such as a casino accounting system. Such systems might be usedto track player play, amounts wagered and won and the like, as is wellknown in the art.

The methods of game play and presentation may also be implemented via agaming machine or device. Such a gaming machine may have variousconfigurations.

The gaming machine may be located at a casino (and as such may bereferred to as a “casino gaming machine”). As described below, thegaming machine may be part of a gaming system, such as a casino gamingsystem which links two or more of the gaming machines or one or moregaming machines with other devices, such as one or more table games,kiosks, accounting systems or servers, progressive systems or servers,player tracking systems or servers or the like.

One configuration of a gaming machine 22 is illustrated in FIG. 3. Asillustrated, the gaming machine 22 generally comprises a housing orcabinet 26 for supporting and/or enclosing various components requiredfor operation of the gaming machine. In the embodiment illustrated, thehousing 26 includes a door located at a front thereof, the door capableof being moved between an open position which allows access to theinterior, and a closed position in which access to the interior isgenerally prevented. The configuration of the gaming machine 22 mayvary. In the embodiment illustrated, the gaming machine 22 has an“upright” configuration. However, the gaming machine 22 could have otherconfigurations, shapes or dimensions (such as being of a “slant”-type,“bar-top” or other configuration as is well known to those of skill inthe art).

The gaming machine 22 preferably includes at least one display device 28configured to display game information. The display device 28 maycomprise an electronic video display such as a cathode ray tube (CRT),high resolution flat panel liquid crystal display (LCD), projection LCD,plasma display, field emission display, digital micro-mirror display(DMD), digital light processing display (DLP), LCD touchscreen, a lightemitting display (LED) or other suitable displays now known or laterdeveloped, in a variety of resolutions, sizes and formats (e.g. 4:3,widescreen or the like). The display 28 may be capable of projecting ordisplaying a wide variety of information, including images, symbols andother indicia or information associated with game play, game promotionor other events. The gaming machine 22 might include more than onedisplay device 28, such as two or more displays 28 which are associatedwith the housing 26. The gaming machine 22 might also include a top boxor other portion. Such a top box might include one or more displaydevices 28, such as in addition to one or more main displays which areassociated with the housing 26. Also, the gaming machine 22 mightinclude side displays (such as mounted to the exterior of the housing26) and might include multiple displays of differing sizes.

As described in more detail below, the gaming machine 22 is preferablyconfigured to present one or more games upon a player making a monetarypayment or wager. In this regard, as described in more detail below, thegaming machine 22 includes means for accepting monetary value.

In one embodiment, as detailed above, certain game outcomes may bedesignated as winning outcomes. Prizes or awards may be provided forwinning outcomes, such as monetary payments (or representations thereof,such as prize of credits), or promotional awards as detailed herein. Asdetailed below, the gaming machine 22 includes means for returningunused monetary funds and/or dispensing winnings to a player.

The gaming machine 22 preferably includes one or more player inputdevices 30 (such as input buttons, plunger mechanisms, a touch-screendisplay, joystick, touch-pad or the like). These one or more devices 30may be utilized by the player to facilitate game play, such as byproviding input or instruction to the gaming machine 22. For example,such input devices 30 may be utilized by a player to place a wager,cause the gaming machine 22 to initiate a game, to indicate game piecessuch as playing cards to be held or discarded, to “cash out” of thegaming machine, or to provide various other inputs.

In one preferred embodiment, the gaming machine 22 includes at least onemicroprocessor or controller for controlling the gaming machine,including receiving player input and sending output signals forcontrolling the various components of the machine 22 (such as generatinggame information for display by the display 28). The controller may bearranged to receive information regarding funds provided by a player tothe gaming machine, receive input such as a purchase/bet signal when apurchase/bet button is depressed, and receive other inputs from aplayer. The controller may be arranged to generate information regardinga game, such as generating game information for display by the at leastone display 28 (such as information comprising dealt or displayed gamepieces such as playing cards, as detailed below), for determiningwinning or losing game outcomes and for displaying information regardingawards for winning game outcomes, among other things.

The controller may be configured to execute machine readable code or“software” or otherwise process information, such as obtained from aremote server. Software or other instructions may be stored on a memoryor data storage device. The memory may also store other information,such as pay table information. The gaming machine 22 may also includeone or more random number generators for generating random numbers, suchas for use in selecting playing cards or other game pieces and forpresenting the game in a random fashion (e.g. whereby the game ispresented in a manner in which the player cannot control the outcome).

Preferably, the controller is configured to execute machine readablecode or instructions which are configured to implement the method ofgame play of the invention. For example, the controller of the gamingmachine 22 may be configured to detect a wager, such as a signal from aplayer's depressing of the “bet one” button. Upon such an event and/orthe player otherwise signaling the gaming machine to present the game,the controller may be configured to cause game symbols or other gameinformation to be displayed on the at least one display 28. Thecontroller may accept input from a player of game inputs, such as arequest to spin reels or the like, via the one or more player inputdevices of the gaming machine 22.

The gaming machine 22 may be configured to generate and present games ina stand-alone manner or it may be in communication with one or moreexternal devices at one or more times. For example, the gaming machine22 may be configured as a server based device and obtain game code orgame outcome information from a remote game server (in which event thegaming machine controller may receive game information from the server,such as game outcome information, and use that server-generatedinformation to present the game at the gaming machine).

As indicated, the gaming machine 22 is configured to present one or morewagering games. Thus, the gaming machines 22 is preferably configured toaccept value, such as in the form of coins, tokens, paper currency orother elements or devices representing value such as monetary funds. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the gaming machine 22 might include acoin acceptor 32 for accepting coins. Of course, associated coinreading/verifying devices and coin storage devices may be associatedwith the gaming machine 22 if it is configured to accept coins.Likewise, the gaming machine 22 might include a media reader 34. Such areader may be configured to accept and read/verify paper currency and/orother media such as tickets. Of course, in such event the gaming machine22 may further be configured with one or more paper currency or ticketstorage devices, such as cash boxes, and other paper currency or mediahandling devices (including transport devices).

The gaming machine 22 might also be configured to read FOBs, magneticstripe cards or other media having data associated therewith and viawhich value or funds may be associated with the gaming machine 22.

In one embodiment, the gaming machine 22 is configured to award winningsfor one or more winning wagering game outcomes. Such winnings may berepresented as credits, points or the like. In one embodiment, theplayer may “cash out” and thus remove previously associated funds andany awarded winnings or such may otherwise be paid to the player. Forexample, upon an award or at cash-out, associated funds may be paid tothe player by the gaming machine 22 dispensing coins to a coin tray. Inanother embodiment, funds may be issued by dispensing paper currency. Inyet another embodiment, a player may be issued a media, such as aprinted ticket, which ticket represents the value which was paid orcashed out of the machine. The aspects of gaming machine “ticketing”systems are well known. One such system is described in U.S. Pat. No.6,048,269 to Burns, which is incorporated herein in its entirety byreference.

The gaming machine 22 may also include a player tracking device, such asa card reader 66 and associated keypad 70. Such player tracking devicesare well known and may permit the game operator to track play of playersof the gaming machine. The tracked play may be utilized to offer playerbonuses or awards.

A casino may have numerous such gaming machines 22, such as located on acasino floor or in other locations. Of course, such gaming machines 22might be used in other environments, such as an airport, a bar or tavernor other locations.

It will be appreciated that the gaming machine illustrated in FIG. 3 isonly exemplary of one embodiment of a gaming machine. For example, it ispossible to for the gaming machine to have various other configurations,including different shapes and styles and having different componentsthan as just described.

For example, instead of comprising a “casino”-style gaming machine, itis possible for the game of the invention to be presented on a computingdevice, including at a home or office computer or a player's mobileelectronic device such as a PDA, phone or the like. In one embodiment, aplayer might log in to a casino server and the controller of the casinoserver may cause game information to be delivered to the player'scomputer via a communication link and then be displayed on a display ofthe player's computer. The communication link might comprise or includethe Internet, a casino network such as a wired or wireless LAN, orcombinations of public and/or private networks including wired and/orwireless links. In such a configuration it will be noted that the term“controller” may comprise more than one device. For example, in aserver-based environment, a controller at a server may generate gameinformation and transmit that information to a local controller at agaming machine or a player's computer or other electronic device. Thelocal controller at the gaming machine or the player's computer or otherelectronic device may then cause game information to be displayed on oneor more associated displays.

It will be appreciated that the methods of the invention may beimplemented in other manners than as described herein. For example, thesteps of the method(s) may be performed in other orders and/or mightinclude additional or other steps.

As indicated herein, aspects of the invention might be applied to othergames or games using other game pieces. For example, the method of theinvention might apply to a dice type game where dice indicia areutilized and a player attempts to receive or achieve certain dicecombinations and the player and/or dealer hands comprise combinations ofdice.

Further, other combinations of game pieces may be utilized. For example,a single initial card or more than two initial cards might be dealt toeach player and the dealer. Other numbers of community cards (such asdifferent numbers of flop, turn or river cards) might also be dealt orutilized.

In one embodiment, at least one initial card is dealt to each player ofthe game and each player forms their own hand using the card(s) dealt tothem and the community cards. In another embodiment, a single playerhand might be played against a dealer hand, whereby multiple playersplay or wager upon the same hand.

In one embodiment, other or additional proposition bets might bedefined. Also, the game might be played with additional wagers, such asfifth wager or more.

It will be understood that the above described arrangements of apparatusand the method there from are merely illustrative of applications of theprinciples of this invention and many other embodiments andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined in the claims.

1.-18. (canceled)
 19. A gaming machine comprising: at least onecontroller; at least one electronic display; at least one player inputdevice; at least one memory device; non-transitory machine readable codestored in said at least one memory device and executable by said atleast one controller to: accept an ante wager and, optionally, aproposition bet on a player hand and/or dealer hand; cause saidelectronic display to display at least one initial playing card dealt toeach of the player and a dealer; cause said at least one controller toreceive an election from said at least one player to fold or place asecondary wager; cause said electronic display to display at least oneflop card; to cause said at least one controller to receive an electionfrom said at least one player to fold or place a tertiary wager if saidplayer has not already folded; cause said electronic display to displayat least one river and/or turn card; cause said at least one controllerto receive an election from said at least one player to fold or place aquaternary wager if said player has not already folded; cause said atleast one controller to determine an outcome of said ante, secondary,tertiary and quaternary wagers if said player has not folded by acomparison of a player hand formed from the at least one initial playingcard dealt to the player and the at least one flop card and at least oneriver and/or turn card to a dealer hand formed from the at least oneinitial playing card dealt to the dealer and the at least one flop cardand at least one river and/or turn card, regardless of the rank of thedealer's hand; and cause said at least one controller to determine anoutcome of said proposition bet with reference to the player's handand/or dealer's hand.
 20. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 19wherein if the player has placed a proposition bet, the outcome of theproposition bet is determined regardless of whether the player hasfolded and regardless of the outcome of the ante, secondary, tertiaryand quaternary wagers.
 21. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1wherein said at least one proposition bet comprises a player hand betthat the player hand will meet predetermined criteria and/or a dealerhand bet that the dealer hand will meet predetermined criteria.
 22. Thegaming ng machine in accordance with claim 21 wherein said predeterminedcriteria comprises that the hand comprises a poker hand having a rank ofThree of a Kind or higher.
 23. The gaming machine in accordance withclaim 19 wherein said at least one flop card comprise three flop cardsand wherein said at least one river and/or turn card comprises a singleriver card and a single turn card.
 24. The gaming machine in accordancewith claim 23 wherein said player hand comprises a best five card pokerhand formed from the seven cards comprising two initial cards dealt tothe player, said three flop cards and said river and turn cards.
 25. Thegaming machine in accordance with claim 23 wherein said dealer handcomprises a best five card poker hand formed from the seven cardscomprising two initial cards dealt to the dealer, said three flop cardsand said river and turn cards.
 26. The gaming machine in accordance withclaim 19 wherein said secondary and tertiary wagers each comprise anamount equal to said ante wager.
 27. The gaming machine in accordancewith claim 19 wherein said quaternary wager comprises an amount of 1 or2 times the ante wager.
 28. The gaming machine in accordance with claim19 wherein said gaming machine further comprises at least one monetaryvalue accepting device which accepts one or more physical items havingassociated monetary value to create or increase a monetary creditbalance with said gaming machine, and wherein said wagers and bets areplaced with electronic credits associated with said gaming machine 29.The gaming machine in accordance with claim 19 wherein said player losestheir ante, secondary and/or tertiary wager if they fold.
 30. The gamingmachine in accordance with claim 19 wherein said determining the outcomeof the proposition bet is determined regardless of whether the playerfolded, if the player placed at least one proposition bet.
 31. Thegaming machine in accordance with claim 19 wherein the outcome of saidante, secondary, tertiary and quaternary wagers is winning if theplayer's hand comprises a poker hand having a rank of Three of a Kind orgreater and beats the dealer's hand.
 32. The gaming machine inaccordance with claim 31 further comprising machine-readable codeexecutable by said at least controller causing said at least onecontroller to award winnings according to the following pay table for awinning player hand: Winning Hand Pays Royal Flush 100 to 1  StraightFlush 20 to 1  Four of a Kind 4 to 1 Full House 3 to 2 All Other Wins 1to 1


33. The gaming ng machine in accordance with claim 19 wherein theoutcome of a proposition bet on the player's hand is winning if theplayer's hand has a poker rank of at least Three of a Kind and theoutcome of a proposition bet on the dealer's hand is winning if theplayer's hand has a poker rank of at least Three of a Kind.
 34. Thegaming machine in accordance with claim 33 further comprisingmachine-readable code executable by said at least controller causingsaid at least one controller to award winnings according to thefollowing pay table for a winning proposition bet on the player ordealer hand: Winning Hand Pays Royal Flush 50 to 1  Straight Flush 40 to1  Four of a Kind 30 to 1  Full House 8 to 1 Flush 7 to 1 Straight 4 to1 Three of a Kind 3 to 1


35. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 19 wherein the playerloses their ante, secondary, tertiary and quaternary wagers if theplayer's hand has a lower poker ranking than the dealer hand.
 36. Thegaming machine in accordance with claim 19 where ante wager, propositionbet, secondary wager, tertiary wager and quaternary wager locations aredefined at said gaming table for each player.